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How to protect your information on the web. Explore what protection is out there (firewalls, encryption, https, etc.) and how to avoid identity theft.

By: Sarah Hartgerink & Jenny Bishop =** DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU! **=

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=What is identity theft? =

**Account takeover: **
Occurs when a thief steals your current credit account information, like your credit card, and makes purchases either with the card itself (stolen from you) or using the account number and expiration date.

**Name fraud: **
Also known as application fraud, is even worse than account takeover. It happens when someone uses your SSN to open new accounts, usually credit applications, to make purchases using your credit rating and good name. =**Here are some helpful hints to avoid identity theft: **=

*Shred, cut, or burn papers with credit card or bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, etc. (even pre-approved credit applications) =**What to do if identity theft happens to you: **=
 * Don’t put your social security number on anything, unless it is legally required.
 * Check your credit report once or twice a year to make sure it doesn’t have accounts you don’t know about.
 * Be stingy about giving out your personal information to others unless you have a reason to trust them.
 * Maintain careful records of your banking and financial accounts.
 * Don’t carry multiple credit cards.
 * Photocopy everything in your wallet or purse, or at least make a list of your ATM/credit cards, driver’s license, and critical medical information.
 * Password protect your palm-pilot and make sure you backup this information to your computer’s hard drive regularly.
 * Close any bank accounts you no longer use.
 * Remove your name from any pre-approved credit lists.
 * On the back of your credit card, sign it and write “SEE ID”.
 * Personal checks carry a lot of information on them. Only give a check to institutions and people you trust. Otherwise use cash.
 * Personal information is stored on the key cards given at hotels. Cut them in half or give them back to the hotel when you leave.
 * Update anti-spyware and anti-virus software on your computer.
 * Do not give to any charity without making sure it is legitimate: [|www.irs.gov] .
 * Monitor bills and credit card activity carefully each month.
 * Use strong passwords-a combination of uppercase and lower case letters, numbers and symbols.

1. File a police report. 2. Call the credit bureaus. -Equifax: 1-888-766-0008 -Experian: 1-888-397-3742 -TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 3. Call your bank and credit card agencies.

= **Take this identity theft quiz and find out if you’re at risk:** =

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=What types of protection are available for you to use? =

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There are many types of software you can use to protect your information. Many of these tools are available through your operating system or internet browser. Other tools can be purchased and downloaded.

Operating Systems



Most operating systems come with a firewall. According to [|Microsoft] "a __firewall__ is a software program or piece of hardware that helps screen out hackers, viruses, and worms that try to reach your computer over the Internet." Basically, a firewall prevents people from gaining access to your personal information, such as credit card numbers and passwords. Firewalls also prevent hackers from crashing your computer.

Microsoft Windows XP and Vista come with the firewall automatically turned on. It is important to check frequently to updates for your operating system. This allows the firewall contained in your operating system to protect your computer from the most current threats on the Internet.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Viruses can be a big problem on your computer. A virus can get your data and duplicate it, send it to other computers, and delete it. To protect your<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">self, you want to use an anti-virus software. There are several different brands of Anti-Virus Software - Norton and McAfee are the two must popular. Viruses are constantly changing so you need to make sure you up date your anti-virus software on a regular basis. Most software does have an automatic update feature you can take advantage of.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Spyware is usually found in the form of a pop-up window that you will come across on the Internet. This spyware tells other computers any information you may have entered on that particular web page or that you have on your computer. Sometimes, it will download it's self onto your computer and continue to transfer information even when you are not on the Internet.

To protect yourself from spyware, there are anit-spyware softwares available. Anti-spyware software detects when there is spyware trying to access your computer and recommends what you should do with it. There are many free ones you can download from the Internet. If you have Windows XP you can down load Windows Defender from Microsoft. If you have Windows Vista, Windows Defender is already on your computer.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">H [[image:lock.png align="left"]]<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">ypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Sites that use HTTPS, use another layer of protection that prevents other people from seeing and gaining access to your information. It is very common for banking websites, investment websites, and websites that require you to log-in to use HTTPS. You can tell if the web site is using this form of security by looking at the website address. Example - **https**://s202.lanxtra.com/servlet/SLogin?template=/0/en/sloginsc.vm&login=true (website to log into Marine Credit Union's Home Banking).

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">There will also be a picture of a lock in the bottom toolbar of your web browser. When you click on this lock, you can see who is verifying that your information is being encrypted when as it is being sent over the Internet. Common encryption validation companies are VeriSign and Truste. media type="youtube" key="LZia1WkBq_A" height="344" width="425"

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Internet Browser
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Your have several options you can adjust in your web browser to increase your security. You can have the Internet prompt you before it downloads anything. Pop-up blockers can also be turned on to prevent pop-ups and some spyware. Just like with all the other software used to protect your information, use need to up date your browser frequently.